Relief picture puzzle

ABSTRACT

A relief picture puzzle includes a base panel having a top recess showing the contour of a design, and a set of puzzle blocks adapted to fill up the top recess of the base panel, each puzzle block having a curved top face, the curved top faces of the puzzle blocks showing contour lines of a 3-dimensional design after the puzzle blocks have been put together and abutted against one another in the top recess of the base panel.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates to picture puzzles and, more particularly, to a relief picture puzzle that shows contour lines of a particular design when set up.

[0002] Picture puzzles are toys having educational value. Cutting a picture into pieces of different shapes and sizes makes a conventional picture puzzle. When playing the game, the pieces are put together and abutted against one another to show the design of the picture. Because conventional picture puzzles are planar toys, they are less attractive. In order to attract the players, three-dimensional picture puzzles are developed. Exemplars of three-dimensional picture puzzles are seen in Pat. App. #83206256 entitled “Three-dimensional picture puzzle having decorative effect”; #80205662 entitled “Three-dimensional landscape puzzle”. The puzzle of Pat. App. #83206256 is comprised of a plurality of first puzzle blocks and a plurality of second puzzle blocks. The second puzzle blocks are to be respectively set around the first puzzle blocks. The puzzle blocks each have a plurality of coupling faces and a plurality of plug rods at each coupling face. By inserting the plug rods of one coupling face of one puzzle block into the spaces in among the plug rods of one coupling face of another puzzle block, the puzzle blocks are connected together, showing a three-dimensional design. The puzzle of Pat. App. #80205662 is comprised of a plurality of puzzle units, each puzzle unit comprised of a plurality of picture pieces and connecting elements. The connecting elements can have rectangular, square, or polygonal shape, or any of a variety of shapes. The picture pieces each have a plurality of coupling holes adapted to receive the connecting elements, and are connected to one another by the connecting elements.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0003] It is the main object of the present invention to provide a relief picture puzzle, which causes a sense of three-dimensional beauty when set up. It is another object of the present invention to provide a relief picture puzzle, which has commercial and educational value. The relief picture puzzle of the present invention comprises a base panel, the base panel having a top recess showing the contour of a design, and a set of puzzle blocks adapted to fill up the top recess of the base panel. The puzzle blocks each have a curved top face. When the puzzle blocks are put in the top recess of the base panel and abutted against one another, the curved top faces of the puzzle blocks show contour lines of a 3-dimensional design.

[0004] The foregoing object and summary provide only a brief introduction to the present invention. To fully appreciate these and other objects of the present invention as well as the invention itself, all of which will become apparent to those skilled in the art, the following detailed description of the invention and the claims should be read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. Throughout the specification and drawings identical reference numerals refer to identical or similar parts. Many other advantages and features of the present invention will become manifest to those versed in the art upon making reference to the detailed description and the accompanying sheets of drawings in which a preferred structural embodiment incorporating the principle of the present invention is shown by way of illustrative example.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0005]FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a relief picture puzzle according to the present invention.

[0006]FIG. 2 is a top plain view of the base panel for the relief picture puzzle according to the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 1.

[0008]FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken along line 4-4 of FIG. 1.

[0009]FIG. 5 illustrates the outer appearance of the relief picture puzzle after filling of the puzzle blocks in the top recess of the base panel according to the present invention.

[0010]FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the present invention, showing a relief map of the USA.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

[0011] For the purpose of promoting an understanding of the principles of the invention, reference will now be made to the embodiment illustrated in the drawings. Specific language will be used to describe same. It will, nevertheless, be understood that no limitation of the scope of the invention is thereby intended, such alterations and further modifications in the illustrated device, and such further applications of the principles of the invention as illustrated herein being contemplated as would normally occur to one skilled in the art to which the invention relates.

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a relief picture puzzle in accordance with the present invention is generally comprised of a base panel 10, and a set of puzzle blocks 20. The puzzle blocks 20 are put together on the base panel 10 to show the contour of a particular design 30. Each puzzle block 20 has a curved top face 40.

[0013] Referring to FIG. 2 again, the base panel 10 has a top recess 11, which shows the contour of the design 30.

[0014] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, and FIGS. 1 and 2 again, the puzzle blocks 20 are put together and peripherally abutted against one another to fill up the top recess 11 of the base panel 10 and to show the design 30. When two puzzle blocks A and B, or C and D are abutted against each other, a contour line 31 is shown between the puzzles A and B, or C and D.

[0015] Referring to FIG. 5 and FIG. 1 again, the puzzle blocks 20 are put together in the top recess 11 of the base panel 10 to show a map of the USA. Each puzzle block 20 represents a particular state of the USA, and marked with the name of the corresponding state 41 and its administrative center 42. When the child plays the game to fill the puzzle block 20 in the top recess 11 of the base panel 10, the child learns much about the geographic locations of the states of the USA and the respective administrative center of each state as well as the related land features.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 6, after the puzzle blocks 20 have been filled in the top recess 11 of the base panel 10 and peripherally abutted against one another, contour lines 31 are shown in the design 30, causing a three-dimensional sense of beauty.

[0017] It will be understood that each of the elements described above, or two or more together may also find a useful application in other types of methods differing from the type described above.

[0018] While certain novel features of this invention have been shown and described and are pointed out in the annexed claim, it is not intended to be limited to the details above, since it will be understood that various omissions, modifications, substitutions and changes in the forms and details of the device illustrated and in its operation can be made by those skilled in the art without departing in any way from the spirit of the present invention. 

I claim:
 1. A relief picture puzzle comprising a base panel (10), said base panel (10) having a top recess (11) showing the contour of a design, and a set of puzzle blocks (10) adapted for abutting against one another to fill up said top recess (11), wherein said puzzle blocks (10) each have a curved top face (40), and the curved top faces (40) of said puzzle blocks (10) show a plurality of contour lines (31) when said puzzle blocks (10) are put in said top recess (11) and peripherally abutted against one another.
 2. The relief picture puzzle of claim 1 wherein said top recess (11) of said base panel (10) shows the contour of a map of a nation.
 3. The relief picture puzzle of claim 2 wherein said puzzle blocks (20) respectively show the contour of each of the states of the nation, each being marked with the name of the respective state (41) and the name of the administrative center (42) of the respective state (41).
 4. The relief picture puzzle of claim 1 wherein said top recess (11) of said base panel (10) shows the contour of an animal.
 5. The relief picture puzzle of claim 1 wherein said top recess (11) of said base panel (10) shows the contour of a building.
 6. The relief picture puzzle of claim 1 wherein said top recess (11) of said base panel (10) shows the contour of a motor vehicle. 